Universal movement control for point mechanism of flat knitting machines



Dec. 5, 1939. G. BITZER 2,182,220

UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR POINT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 a &

LEE--l- I INVENTOR.

g iflobg er R I ATTORNEY.

Dec. 5, 1939. Y Q BITZER 2,182,220

UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR POINT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 v .1 a d 59 52 511 5 35 555 59.4 55 7? 594T 1r in [a Q1 J I if 407 q 52 ;6

596 7 4P7 '1 2' L .559 16M}? Z2 M r' L,\ 52 '1 w 15 i r M 55 w A ATTOR Dec. 5, 1939. G. BfizER 2,182,220

UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR POINT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTINQ MACHINES Filed May 21, 1938 1O Sheets-Shet 3 Fits--5- 599 5 5 3 15 1.5 5 02 7 569 g 65 22' a F 9 5 2 5 I 2 I 52251 4155 55% 9 2 5 593 5] 591 4 J59 INV I $012M; ,551581;

BY M

, A TTORNE).

Dec. 5, 1939. G, B|TZER 2,182,220

UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR POINT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1938 L Sheets-Sheet 4 F; E- E1 364-7 ,z 79 ii 5W 9 w m 5s W 552 w Dec. 5, 1939. G. BITZER UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR POINT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1938 F G- lE l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 'Goflmb ,55129'81,

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 5, 1939. G. BITZER 0 UNIVERSAL MQVEMENT CONTROL FOR POINT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 F.T.E-El- D 70 69 10 70% 71 :5

l X MUM F; Ef-E|D wIZZ as 727705 0 9 1 55 I I M .z l -l a5 ii 699 ATTORNE.

Deg. 5, 1939. G. BITZER A 2,132,220

UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR POINT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1938 I0 Sheets-Sheet 7 y 1 59 1M z6 1- l=.: E-- EQ O f'55 26 /f I:

I I 261 1 A [I x 59 I J m 119 D I75 'Z/ 26 325 l Z %zf ll i a 12 w BY V ATTORNEY.

5, 1939. BITZER v 2,182,220

UNIVERSAL MOVEIENT CONTROL FOR POINT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed my 21, 1958 l0,Shets-She'et a g5 INVENTOR:

gaiflobflit er; BY 1 ATTORN Dec. 5, 1939. G BlTZER 2,182,220

UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR POINT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1958 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 w a illa- INVENTORI #0114501? flitjer,

Dec. 5, 1939; G. BITZER Q 2,132,220

UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR POI NT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1958 1O sheets sheet 10 IN VEN TOR.

BY 7 Arrows/ Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR- POINT MECHANISM OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Gottlob Bitzer, Lincoln Park, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 21, 1938, Serial No. 209,200

25 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machine attachments, and particularly to mechanisms associated with full fashioned knitting machines for producing modified loop formations in fabrics.

Openwork or lace fabric formations produced by knitting machines have required pattern mechanisms of cumbersome, expensive and intricate character, depending upon the variety and kind of figures desired, and, in many instances, manufacturers have operated attachments of reduced pattern ranges instead of attachments of desirably greater pattern producing ability. Such practice is a limitation on the manufacture of the fabrics, reduces the variety of patterns, and causes other inconvenience and loss in certain instances.

Among other objections to openwork or lace producing mechanisms have been space factor, adaptability to certain locations and repair features; there having been no such mechanism that included all of the advantages of compactness, convenience of location, easy repair, and other desirable features.

To avoid certain of the well known lace mechanisms, such as those located at the ends of multi-section full fashioned knitting machines, and which have been particularly subject to objections as above outlined, it has beensuggested to employ' the so-called center lace attachments, which, until this invention, although highly successful and desirable in certain applications, have been limited in others. These attachments are carried on the front narrowing shafts, near the centers of full fashioned knitting machines, and, although of compact, desirable character, have been limited in the designs they produce, as above set forth.

It is an object of this invention to overcome certain of the above-mentioned objections, and

to provide an cpenwork or lace attachment for knitting machines, particularly of the multi-section full fashioned variety, that combines certain of the advantages of an end lace mechanism with those of a "center lace attachment,-

Another object of the invention is to conserve space, weight and time, in view of increased convenience and variety of pattern in openwork mechanisms of the above-indicated character.

Another object is to facilitate adjustment and selection of patterns, in producing knitted fabrics having openwork formations.

Another object is to very greatly increase the usefulness and range of a center lace attachment,

- ioned stockings.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a center lace attachment, means other than the attachment itself for effecting shifting movement of lace points.

Another object is to provide a universal movement control for point mechanism of fiat knitting machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal movement control for point mechanism of flat knitting machines which may be applied to standard machines with substantially minimum change.

Another object is to provide, in a center lace attachment, for variation in the number and pattern controlling effect of elements movable along the same path, as distinguished from prior attachments of this character requiring a. plurality of paths to obtain certain pattern selection.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated character that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and effective in its operation.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view, in front elevation, of a full fashioned knitting machine embodying the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view 'of the machine, taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, partially in section and partially in elevation, taken substantially along the line 3-3, of Fig. 1, showing, on a slightly smaller scale, parts of a control mechanismthereof for causing lace points of individual lace point bars each to shift right andleft;

' Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view, taken substantially along the line l4 of Fig. 2, and to a slightly smaller scale, of other portions of the Fig. 6 is a top plan view, of the pattern mechanism, and other parts, of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 shows portions of the structure of Fig. 5, as viewed in the direction of that figure, but moved toward the right, with certain elements taken away, and others added, at the left hand side of the figure, and still further elements in different positions from the positions thereof of Fig. 6;

' Fig. 8 is a sectional. view, taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 6, and drawn to a slightly larger scale;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 5, on a larger scale, of portions of the lace point control mechanism;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view, in elevation, of portions of the mechanism of Fig. 6, shown at the right of said figure;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but with a part in section, of the structure of that figure, and certain of the parts in different positions;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view, partially in top plan and partially in horizontal plane section, taken substantially along the line l2--l2 of Fig. 'I;

Fig. 13 is a detail section, taken substantially along the line l3-l3 of Fig. 1, enlarged relative thereto;

Fig. 14 is a view, similar to Fig. 13, taken substantially along theline lfl-M of Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view, on a slightly enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail view taken substantially along the line Iii-I6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I'II| of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a View, partially in side elevation and partially in section, taken substantially along the line |8-l8 of Fig. 7, but to a larger scale, showing means for moving a picot bar between active and inactive positions;

Fig. 19 is a detail view taken substantially along the line l9|9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail front elevational view of portions of a lace point displacer mechanism embodied in the invention, as viewed at the upper left hand portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of parts shown in Fig. 20; i

- Fig. 22 is a cro'ss'sectional view, taken substantially along the line 22-22 of Fig. 1, of the displacer mechanism of Figs. 20 and 21;

Fig. 23 is a detailed view, in section, taken along the line 23-43 of Fig, 20;

Fig. 24 is a top plan View, taken substantially along the line 24-24 of Fig. 1, of a pattern mechanism and parts of cam shaft shogging elements, and narrowing spindle actuating mechanism controlled thereby;

Fig. 25 is a view, taken cross sectionally of the machine substantially along the line 2525 of the line 26-28 of Fig. 28, of parts of the lace point control device of the invention;

28 carrying a follower roller 29.

Fig. 27 is a sectional view, also taken from the front of the machine near the lower left hand portion thereof, as viewed in the direction of Fig. 1, substantially along the line 21-21 of Fig.

28, of elements of the pattern and cam shaft shogging mechanisms above mentioned;

Fig. 28 is a view, taken cross sectionally of the machine substantially along the line 2828 of Fig. 1, of parts of the mechanism of Figs 24 and 25;

Fig. 29 is an enlarged detail section, taken substantially along the line 2929 of Fig. 30,

' parts being broken away, of elements of the pat- Figs. 33, 34, 35 and 36 are sequence diagrams of parts of the lace point and control mechanism as viewed in Fig. 1.

In the drawings and description, only those parts necessary to a complete understanding of the invention have been set forth; further information as to the construction and operation of other elements not herein specifically pointed out, but which are usual and well known, being available in the pamphlet entitled Full Fashioned Knitting Machines, copyright 1920, and

in the Reading Full Fashioned Knitting Machine Catalogues, copyright 1929 and 1935, published by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Penpa and in a pamphlet entitled Knitting Machine Lectures, published in 1935 by the 'Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing,

Pennsylvania.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 and 2,-a multi-section full fashioned legger machinefexemplifying one form of mechanism for which the invention is adapted, comprises in general, a frame including parts to be hereinafter mentioned, a power mechanism including a cam shaft C, a main pattern unit M, an auxiliar pattern unit A, a follower shifting mechanism F, narrowing head B, needle bar mechanism N, sinker and divider mechanism S, a lace stitch attachment L, a lace point rod displacer. device D, a picot bar manipulating device P, a lace attachment actuator T, a lace attachment control mechanism R, and a narrowing lift mechanism U.

The machine frame is, in general, of usual construction, including a front beam l2, a back beam I4, a front bed'j], a center bed l8, end frames l9, and center'frames 20.

The power mechanism includes the power or cam shaft C that is driven, in a usual manner, as by an electric motor, through drive connec tions (not shown). a

The needle bar mechanism N comprises needles 2| held by clamps 22 to a needle bar 23 on a bracket 24, which is pivotally connected, by a pin 25, to a lifting arm 26 on a needlejbar lifting shaft 21, ,on which is also mounted an arm The follower 29 cooperates with a contoured cam 30 and a circular cam 38 on the main cam shaft C. The

on the back beam l4.

cam levers and associated followers (not shown).

By lifting the lever 33 to remove the notch 34 from the pin 35, the needles 2| may be moved, from the operative position shown; to an inactive position in which a notch is placed over the pin 35, and which is a position of the needles forward of the sinkers and dividers, for repair work, such as replacement of needles.

The sinker and divider mechanism S comprises a sinker head 4|, sinkers 42, and dividers 43, the sinkers being moved forwardly by jacks 44 slurred by a slur cam 45 secured to a cock box 46 mounted on a guide rail 41 for slidable movement transversely to the sinkers and dividers. The cock box is secured to a connecting bar 48, and is reciprocated parallel to the front of the machine, by a usual coulier motion mechanism. The dividers 43 are moved forwardly and backwardly by a usual catch bar (not shown), which receives its movement from a cam on the cam shaft 0. The catch bar also moves the sinkers backwardly to be in position to again be slurred forwardly as above set forth.

The main pattern unit M (Figs. 1, 24 and 28-32) comprises a bracket 50 on the front beam I2 and a stationary spindle 5| fixed to the bracket by an enlarged portion 52 of the spindle 5|, and a nut 54, between which a portion of the bracket is clamped. The spindle 5| has a polygonal front end 53. A front bridge or bracket member 55 is fixed relative to the bracket 50, as by a portion 56.

(Figs. 1 and 28), and a stationary shaft 51.

A sprocket wheel or drum 58, having an integral ratchet wheel portion 59 at its rear end, also has a rear bearing portion 60, and a front bearing sleeve 6|, journaled on the spindle 5|. The rear bearing portion 68 bears against a thrust bearing spacer 62, keyed to the spindle 5|, which spacer, in turn, bears axially against the forward end of the enlarged portion 52 of the spindle 5|. The sleeve 6|, which is journaled, at its inner side, on the spindle 5|, is journaled at its outer side, in a nut 63, inthe front bridge or bracket 55. A spring biased damper device comprises a fibrous disk or pad 64 on a plate 65 that is biased, by springs 66 in apertures of the nut 63, to press the pad 64 against the front face of the sprocket wheel or drum 58 to brake the rotative action of the sprocket wheel about the spindle 5|.

A second ratchet wheel 61, loosely journaled on the portion 52 of the spindle 5|, and rotatable relative to the ratchet wheel 59 onthe sprocket drum 58, has an integral rear edge gear wheel portion 68 (Fig. 29), and an integral front edge flange portion 69 having diametrically opposite recesses 10. A pinion '1I, meshing with the gear wheel 68, is fixed to a shaft 12, journaled in bearings 13 and 14 on the bracket 50 and the bridge 55, respectively, and carries a forward end dial or indicator 15 covered by a member 16 fixedly mounted on the bridge 55 by a pin 11.

A pawl 18, pivotally mounted on the stationary shaft 51, cooperates with the ratchet wheel 61 toward which it is biased by a spring 19 connected between a pin 82, on an arm 83 of the bracket 50, and a pin 84, on an arm 81 of the the spindle 5|, carries a plungerdetent pawl 93 for cooperation with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 61, and a pawl .94 pivotally mounted on a pin 91 having ratchet tooth engaging portion 95 that is disposed, in the axial direction of the spindle 5|, partially over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 59, and partially over the flange 69. The pawl lever 92 is biased counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 1, and 30'-32, by a spring 99 connected between the pawl lever and a bracket I00 has a follower portion I03 for cooperation with any of buttons I04 carried on the links of a chain I01, on the sprocket wheel 58, toward which the portion I03 is biased by a spring I08. The latter is connected between the lever I02 and a pin I09 connected to the portion 56 which carries a stop screw II2 for limiting movement of the lever I 02 toward the chain I01. A member I I3, secured to the lever I02, and extending parallel to the spindle 5| carries a screw I I4 for engaging the arm 81 of the pawl 18.

The pawl lever 92 has a depending portion II1 for engagement by a portion 8 of the lever II9 that is pivotally mounted, by a pin I22, on the bracket 50, and carries a follower I23 for cooperation with a cam I24 on the main cam shaft C. A stop screw I25, on the bracket 50, limits movement of the lever II9 toward the cam I24.

At each revolution of the-cam shaft C with the mechanism positioned as shown in Fig. 31, the pawl lever arm 92, through the plunger detent pawl 93 and the pawl 94, advances the ratchet wheels 61 and 59, respectively, one notch. However, if the pawl 18 is out of engagement with the ratchet 51, as shown in Figs. 30 and 31, such advance of the ratchet wheel 61 will be nullified by the return thereof of one notch, with the plunger detent pawl. Thus, with the idle return of the ratchet wheel 61, the pawl 94 will be permitted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 59 to advance the chain I01 upon each revolution of the cam shaft C.

When one of the buttons I04, on the chain I01, forces the lever I02 clockwise about the shaft 51, as viewed in Fig. 30, the contact screw I I4 disengages the arm 81 of the pawl 18, which is thereby moved clockwise by the spring 19 against the ratchet wheel 61, whereby upon subsequent notchings of the wheel 61, by the plunger detent pawl 93, the wheel will be prevented from returning with each notching, as above set forth. Upon notching of the ratchet wheel 61, the pawl 94 will be disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet wheel 59 by the flange portion 69 of the ratchet wheel 61, Fig. 32, thus preventing the advance of the chain I01.

When the wheel 61 has been thus notched twenty times, from the position of Fig. 32, in which the tooth engaging portion 95 of the pawl 94 is riding on the flange 69, this portion 95 will drop into one of the recesses 10, Fig; 31, and engage a tooth of the ratchet wheel 59, thereby advancing the main pattern chain I01 and throwing the button I04 from under the follower portion I03 of the lever I 02, again engaging the screw II4 to thearm 81 of the pawl 18, and resuming the idle forward notching of the ratchet wheel 61; the chain I01 thus being advanced a distance of at least one link for each twenty teeth, or half to indicate how many of the teeth of the wheel 61 have been advanced, for the information of the operator, if the machine should be stopped at an intermediate stage of the operation of the wheel 61.

A handle lever I21 has portions I28 and I29 for cooperation withthe pawls 94 and 18, respectively, for manually throwing these pawls out of engagement with the ratchet wheels, if it is desired to move the chain I04 one way or the other, by attaching a hand crank (not shown) to the polygonal end 53 of the spindle 5|.

A stub shaft I31 (Fig. 24) is journaled in the bracket 50 transversely to the cam shaft C, and carries a follower I38 disposed between shogging cams I39 and I40 on the camshaft C.

A member I42 is fixed at one end to the stub.

shaft I31 and is slidably supported parallel to the shaft on the bracket 50. A tension spring I43 is connected between the slide member I42 and the stationary bracket 50, and tends to move the stub shaft I31 whereby to move the follower I38, from its normal knitting position, between the shogging cams I39 and I40, to its narrowing position, also between these cams, wherein it engages face cam portions of the cams to shog .the cam shaft C. This tendency of the spring I43 is normally prevented by a latch I44 (Fig. 26), which is released by one of a plurality of buttons I41 on the chain I01, or by one of a plurality of buttons I48 on a chain I5I of the auxiliary pattern unit A, as will hereinafter be set forth.

The stub shaft I31, and the follower I38 thereon, are returned to inactive position, against the action of the spring I43, bycooperation between a cam I49, on the cam shaft C, and a follower I50 on the slide member I42.

The latch I44 is pivotally mounted on the stationary shaft 51, and connected, by a link I52,

the pivot pins I53 and I54, to'a lever arm I51,-

is pivotally connected at one end, by a pin I63,

to the lever arm I51,'and, at the other end, is pivotally connected, by a pin I64, .to one arm I61 of a crank I68 that is pivotally mounted on a stationary shaft I69. Another arm I12, of the crank I68, carries a device I13 for contact with the buttons I48 on the chain I5I; this device being slidable laterally to the arm I12, for positioning in line with another row of buttons on the chain I5I, or to be thrown to inactive position aside the chain, and held by a plunger detent not generic to this invention.

The chain I5I" is driven by a sprocket wheel I14 on a. stationary shaft I11, and is held in position by an idler sprocket wheel I18 on a shaft I19 in a bracket I82 on the front beam I2. The shafts I69 and I11 are parts of a stationary frame including a bracket I83 on the front beam I2, and a. front bridge member I84.

-As better seen in Fig. 27, the shaft 51 further carries a lever I81 biased toward the chain I01 by a spring I88, and limited in such movement beam on the shaft I69, and, at its upper end, has a latch shoulder 209 for controlling the lowering of a follower 2I0, Fig. 25, into operative engagement with a face cam 2 on the cam shaft C. A spring 20I, connected between a pin 205 on the lever 208, and a pin 206 on the bracket I83, biases the lever 208 clockwise about the shaft I69, as viewed in Fig. 27.

The auxiliary pattern chain I5I is advanced independently of the main pattern chain I 01, but synchronously therewith, and by similar-mechanism, as better seen in Fig. 25, comprising a ratchet wheel 2| 2, on the sprocket wheel I14. and operated by a pawl 2I3, pivotally mounted on the bracket I83. The pawl 2I3 is intermittently actuated by a lever 2I4 pivotally mounted on the bracket I83 by a pin 2I1, and carrying a follower 2I8 for operation by a cam 2I9 secured to the face cam 2. A spring 222 biases the follower 2 I8 toward the cam 2I9, and against a stop screw 223 on the bracket I83, and a spring 224 biases the pawl 2I3 toward the ratchet wheel 2I2.

The latch shoulder 209 cooperates with a lever 221 having, at its forward end, a bifurcated portion 228 embracing a stationary upright rod 229 fixed to the bracket I83. The other end of the v lever 221 is pivotally connected, by a vertical pin 232, to the forward end 233 of a link or lever 231; a pin 234 being provided for carrying a follower 238 for cooperation with the periphery of the cam 2| I, and the follower 2I0 being rotatablymounted on the lever 231, by a pin 239. The link 231 is pivotally connected, by a horizontal pin 242, to a lever 243 that is pivotally mounted, by a vertical pin 244, in a bracket 241 on the back I4. A spring 248, connected between a hook portion 249 on the link 231 and a bracket 252 on the back beam I4, tends to move the follower 2I0 downwardly against the action of the latch 209.

The lever 243 has a bifurcated portion 253, at its rear end, embracing the top end of a lever 254 that is pivotally mounted, by a pin 251, on the bracket 241 and has a forked lower end 258 embracing a horizontal rod 259 to which it is pivotally held, as by collars 262.

The rod 259 is biased toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 24, by a spring 263 surrounding the rod, between a collar 264 on the rod and a member 261 fixed to the back beam I4. The rod 259 is similarly pivotally connected, between collars 268, to a forked end 269 of a lever 212 that is pivotally mounted, by a vertical pin 213, in a bracket 214 on the back beam I4. The lever 212 has a bifurcated forward end 211 that embraces a follower 218 for cooperation with a cam 219 on the cam shaft C. The follower 218 is axially slidably mounted on a shaft 282 carried by a lever 283 that is pivotally mounted, by a pin 284,

291 of the narrowing head B. The latter comprises a usual spindle 298, rotatably mounted in brackets 309 mounted on a base plate 310 secured to the center bed 18, including reversely threaded screw portions 299 and 302, for operating narrowing nuts 303 and 304, respectively, having portions 301 by which they are guided along a stationary rod 308 supported in brackets 309. a

'10 Usual narrowing rods 312 and 313 carrying point combs 311 and 318, respectively, are longitudinally slidably journaled in brackets 319 on a front narrowing shaft 320 that is connected, by arms 322, to a rear narrowing shaft 325 journaled in brackets 326 on the machine frame. Dipping movement of the front narrowing shaft 320, about the axis of the rear narrowing shaft 325, as a pivot, is effected by the mechanism U through links 321 that are each pivotally con-- nected, at" the upper end, to the front narrowing shaft, and, at the lower end, to a lever 328. The latter is pivotally mounted, by a pin 329, to the machine frame, and carries a follower 332 for cooperation with circular and contoured cams 333 and 334, respectively on the cam shaft C.

' Referring particularly to Figs. 5-11, the lace stitch attachment L comprises a base 342 having a portion 343 clamped in fixed relation to the front narrowing shaft 320 by a complementary clamp member 344 and bolts 341; the base member 342 having a boss 348 in which an upright stud or shaft 349 is screw threadably mounted, and secured, as by a nut 351 having rotatably mounted thereon a sprocket wheel 352, this wheel having, as seen in Fig. 8, portions of successively smaller diameter providing, respectively, a thrust bearing rest 353 for a pawl carrying lever 351, a bearing 354 which the lever 351 surrounds and a portion 355 to which is secured a ratchet wheel 38. A friction disk device 359 operates between a nut 362 on the stud 349 and the top face of the ratchet wheel 358 to damp the movement of the latter about the stud. A handle 363, slidably mounted on a sleeve 364 constituting an extension of the stud 349 is biasedupwardlythereon, by a spring 361, to normally hold a finger 368 out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 358, but to permit engagement of the teeth by the finger, by pressing the handle 363 downwardly. When this is done, the ratchet and sprocket wheels 358 and 352 may be rotated to manually adjust the position of a chain or pattern element receiving base 369 extending around the sprocket wheel 352, and around an idler sprocket wheel 312. The latter is journaled on a pin 313 in a fork 314 that is mounted at one end of a rod 311 longitudinally adjustably fixed in brackets 318 fast on the front narrowing shaft 320; the arrangement being such as to give a base support of substantial length along the front narrowing shaft 320 for the idler sprocket wheel 312, and to provide for adjustment of the latter toward or away from the main sprocket wheel 352, whereby to shorten or lengthen the chain 369 by the removal or addition, respectively, of links.

The lever 351 carries a pawl 319, biased toward the ratchet wheel 358 by a spring 382 and having a handle 383 for moving the pawl to inactive position relative to the ratchet wheel when desired.

351 by a pin 384 that depends from the lever to front narrowing shaft 320 and constituting an The pawl 319 is pivotally mounted on the lever element of a linkage between the attachment L and the cam shaft C.

The pin 381 pivotally connects the outer end of the lever 388 to a forward clevis end portion 389 ofa lever arm 392 that is pivotally connected, by

a pin 394, to a lever 391 that is pivotally mounted on the back narrowing shaft 325, as by a split bearing structure 398. A spring 399, connected between a hook portion 402 on the lever arm 392, and a pin 403 on the lever 351, biases the pin 384 toward the pin 381.

The lever 391 is further pivotally connected, by a pin 404, to an upper end element 401 of a link 408, the lower end of which is pivotally connected, by a pin 412 to one arm 413 of a lever 414. The latter is pivotally mounted, by a pin 411 in brackets 418 secured to the back beam 14, and has another arm 419 on which a follower 422 is mounted, by a pin 423, for cooperation with contoured and circular cams 424 and 421, respectively, on the cam shaft C. A spring 428 is connected between a hook portion 432 on the arm 413 and a stationary part of the machine frame, such as a bracket on the back beam 14, for biasing the follower 422 toward its cams 42 4 and 421.

The chain 369 comprises side links 434 and cross pieces 431 each provided with a plurality, in this case two, of apertures 438 for the reception of pattern elements or buttons 439, thereby arranged in parallel rows along the chain for cooperation, one row, or along one path at a time, with a follower 442 on the order of a-plunger that operates lengthwise, or back and forth, in line with any particular one of the buttons 439 which is in position on such line, as controlled by the chain at the time. The buttons 439 are of various lengths to respectively determine the distance, or number of needles, over which lace points 446 or the points 441 of a pioct bar 448 may move to effect the desired pattern, as will further appear.

The plunger follower 442 projects from a disk 452 constituting part of an eccentric device W for not only determining the direction of shift of the points 446 and 441, after the positioning of these points has been determined by the button 439 under the plunger 442, but also for adjusting the plunger to operate with one or another of the rows of buttons 439. Y

The disk 452, on which the plunger 442 is disposed, is fixed as by screws 449 (Fig. 11), to a sleeve 453 rotatably journaled on a trunnion or stud 454 that is concentrically fixed to one side of a disk 451 to the other side of which is eccentrically fixed a stud or trunnion 458 journaled in a bearing portion 459 on a member 462.

The member 462 is mounted on a slide bar 461 disposed in a slideway formed by a substantially rabbet groove 468 in the base 342, and by a plate 469 secured to the base, as by screws 412. Studs 4'14, having flat sided spacer enlargements 411 between the slide bar 461 and the member 462, are screw threadably secured to the bar 461 and held by nuts 418. As seen in Fig. 12, one of the studs 414 is disposed, in the slideway formed by the groove 468 and the plate 469, between a portion 480 of the base 342, and a cross portion or partition 482 on the base 342. Another of the studs 414 is disposed in the slideway between the partition 482 and another partition or end portion 483 on the base 342, and a further stud 414 is entirely outside the slideway. The plate 469 is also secured to the partitions 482 and 483 by the screws 312. This arrangement, although providing for ready assembly and disassembly of the parts, prevents withdrawal of the slide member 462 in any direction.

A face cam disk 493 is fixed, as by screws 49l, to the sleeve 453 and has a pair of diametrically opposite cam portions 494 of the same length. A non-rotative member 491 of disk like character having a perimetrical forked radial projection 498 is loosely mounted on the stud 454 between the face cam disk 493 and the disk 451, and adapted for vertical movement, while being maintained non-rotative by a pin 499 disposed between-the legs of the fork 498 and secured to the bearing portion 459. The non-rotative member or disk carries, at its side facing the cam portions 494 of the disk 493, duplicate sets of buttons, each including a long button 502, a button 503 of intermediate or neutral length, and a short button 504,

' each of these buttons of each setbeing diametrically opposite the corresponding button of the other set, so that no matter which button is engaged by either of the long cam portions 494 the other cam portion 494 simultaneously engages a button of the same length, and since the cam portions 494 are of equal lengths, the feature provides a balanced double acting face cam action. This relation is undisturbed irrespective of which row of the buttons 439 the plunger 442 is opposite, as determined by a crank arm 501, better seen in Fig. 6. This arm has a plunger detent operating handle 508 having an inner end for position-biased by a spring 509 (Fig.- 15), in either of recesses l2 and 5l3 in the bearing portion 459 depending upon which row of the buttons 439 the plunger 442 is opposite. To change the plunger 442 from position opposite the top row of buttons, as illustrated, to position opposite the bottom row of buttons, the handle 508 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, to release it from the recess 5l2, and then turned one hundred and eighty degrees to allow the handle to snap, by spring action, into the recess 5l3, during which action, the member 491 merely slides between the disks 451 and 493. A stop member 5| 4, adjustably secured to the slide member 462 is provided to prevent displacement of the assembly, including the disk 452, the sleeve 453, and the face cam disk 493 from the stud 454.

The arrangement whereby the number of links 434, cross pieces 431 and buttons 439 may be varied at will, provides means, novel in center lace attachments, for varying the number and pattern controlling effect of elements, such as the buttons of each row, for movement along the same path. That is, in which such variation can be efiected in one or both rows, or along one or both paths, Without changing from one path to another before any selection can be had, as in disk cam devices.

Linkage, between the attachment L and the cam shaft C, comprises an arm 5" projecting radially from the side of the sleeve 453, pivotally connected at its outer free end, by a horizontal pin 5I8, Fig. 3, to a yoke 5l9 that is pivotally connected, by an upright pin 522 to one end element 523 of a link 524. A rear end element 521 of the link 524 is pivotally connected, by a pin 528, to an upper forked end 529 of a link 532 that is pivotally connected at its lower end, by a pin 533, to theupper end of a lever 534. The latter is pivotally mounted on the back narrowing shaft 325, as by a split bearing 531, and is pivotally connected, by a pin 538, to the upper end of a link 539 having a lower end pivotal connection 542 to one arm 543 of a lever 544. The lever 544 is pivotally mounted, by the pin 411, in the brackets M8, on the back beam i4, and has another arm 549 on which followers 552 and 553 are pivotally mounted by a pin 554.

The follower 553 is embraced by a fork end 551 of a lever 558 that is pivotally mounted, by a vertical pin 559 on a bracket 562, on the front beam 12. An end 563 of the lever 558 is, in turn, embraced by a fork end 564, Fig. 4, of another lever 561 that is similarly vertically pivoted on the bracket 562 by a pin 568 and having a depending arm 569. The latter is disposed between collars 512, and thereby pivotally connected to a rod 513 extending along the front beam l2 to a similar pivotal'co'nnection 514 to a lower arm of a lever 511 of the auxiliary pattern unit A. An upper arm 518 of the lever 511 cooperates with a lever 519 pivotally mounted on the stationary shaft I69. A spring 582, surrounding the rod 513, engages at one end a bracket 583, on the front beam I2 in which bracket the rod 513 is slidably supported, and, at the other end,

presses against a collar 584 fixed to the rod 513 for biasing the latter toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. 'The follower 552 cooperates with av contoured cam 581 and a circular cam 588, and the follower 553 cooperates with a cam 589 on the cam shaft .0.

A picot point rod 592, and a lace point rod 593 are supported along the front ofthe machine by the narrowing rod supporting brackets 3I9. Both the picot point rod 592 and the lace point rod 593 are longitudinally slidably embraced by a member 591 (Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 12) depending from the left end of the slide bar 461, as viewed in the drawings, and secured in position as by a screw 598.

A spring 599 is connected between a pin 602, on the member 591, and a pin 603, on the plate 469, and tends to bias the member 591 and the slide member 462 toward each other. Elements 600 and 6M, on the rods 592- and 593, respectively, in the active positions thereof, are engaged by the member 591, such engagement being shown only as to the element I in Fig. 5. The element 600, in this figure, is in inactive position, not engageable by the member 591. points 446 are secured to the lace point rod 593 by brackets 604. The picot bar 448 is secured to the picot point rod 592 by lever arms 601.

The picot point rod 592 is biased to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a spring 608 connected between an arm 609, fixed to the front narrowing shaft 320, and an upper arm 612, see also Fig. 13, of a lever 6l3 that is pivotally mounted, by a pin 6| 4, to one member of a clamp 6I1 fixed to the front narrowing shaft 320. The lever 6I3 has a shorter lever arm 6|8 engaging a collar 6l9 that is fixed to the picot point rod 592, as by a set screw.

Similarly, the lace point rod 593 is biased to the left by a spring 622 (Figs. 1 and 14) connected between an arm 623, fixed to the front narrowing shaft 320, and an upper arm 624 of a lever 621 that is pivotally mounted, by a pin 628, to a clamp 629 fixed to the front narrowing shaft 320. The lever 621 has a lower arm 632 engaging a collar 633 fixed to the lace point rod 593. e

As shown in Figs. 1, l6 and 1'7, a device 631 for accentuating the position of the lace points 446, in either active or inactive position, comprises a collar 638 fixed to the lace point rod 593, a spring 639 surrounding the rod between the collar 638 and a member 642, and another collar 643 fixed to the rod 593. The member 642, loosely mounted on the rod 593, has upper arms 644 embracing the picot point rod 592, and axially extending recesses containing spring biased ball detent elements 641 cooperating with recesses in the adjacent face of the collar 643. The entire device 631 shifts with the rod 593, and when the latter is turned from active to inactive position,

or from inactive to active position, the member 642, by the relation of its arms 644 to the picot point rod 592, holds the ball detent elements 641 for engagement with the recesses in the collar 643. I

As shown in Fig. 1, but better seen in Figsfl, 18 and 19, the device P, for moving the picot point rod 592 to inactive position, and holding it in such position, against the action of the spring 608, comprises cooperating members 652 and 653 clamped to the front narrowing shaft 320. The

member 652 has an arm 654 on which is supported a cross head 651 having end recesses 658 and 659, and end stops 662 and 663. The clamp member 653 supports a pin 661' on which is pivotally mounted a lever 668 having upper and lower arms 669 and 610, respectively. A collar 612, fixed to the picot point rod 592, is held against the lower end of the arm 610, by the spring 698 (Figs. 1 and 13). The upper arm 669 of the lever 668 has a handle 613 and a grip arm 614 pivotally connected to lugs 611 on the handle, by a pin 618. The grip arm614 has a forked lower arm 619 disposed under a head 682 of a plunger rod 683 extending through an aperture 684 in the arm 669 into the recess 658, in which position the picot point rod 592 is locked in inactive position, with a dog 681 on the arm 669 against the stop 662. A spring 688, surrounding the plunger rod 683, in the recess 684, between a forward portion of the arm 669 and a pin 689 in the plunger rod 683, biases the latter toward the recesses 658 and 659.

To release the picot point rod 592 for movement to active position to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and '7, by the action of the spring 608, the handle 613 and the grip 614 are grasped, the grip pressed inwardly, and the plunger rod 583 withdrawn from the recess 658, upon which action, the spring 608 causes the lever 668 to pivot clockwise about the pin 661 until the dog 681 hits the stop 66.3, and the plunger rod 683 is forced by the spring 688 into the recess 659. The reverse operation of throwing the rod 592 to inactive position is the same, except that the handle 613 is moved against the action of the spring 608, instead of with it.

For throwing the lace point rod 593 to inactive position, a handle 692, shown just under the .right end of the picot bar 448 at the top center of Fig. 1, constitutes a fixed radial arm on the rod 593 whereby to turn the lace points 446' upwardly one hundred and eighty degrees, from the lower active position illustrated. When this is done, a cam block 693, see also Fig. 7, engages the transverse end surface of a screw 694 to move the rod 593 to the right, from the position of Fig. 1. In Fig. '7, the cam 693 is not in position to properly engage the screw 694, since this position is an operating position of the rod 593 during reciprocation of which the handle 692 is not to be operated. The screw 694 is mounted in an extension 691 of one of the brackets 3I9 that is fixed to the front narrowing shaft 320.

The picot rod 592, and the lace point rod 593,

carry axially extending left end screws 698 and 699, respectively (Figs. 1, 7 and 20), which, in the active positions of the rods, engage a face plate 102 of a head member 103 of a horizontal longitudinally reciprocable slide bar 104 mounted on a stationary member or bracket 101. The latter is secured at its right end, as viewed in Figs.- 1, 20 and 21, to the front bed I1, as by screws 108, and, 'at its left end, is supported on the base plate 3I0 by a vertically adjustable stud arrangement 109. The slide bar 104 is held in a groove 1I1 (Fig. 23) of the bracket 101, by overhanging cap members H8 and H9 that are secured in position, as by screws 122. A spring 123;

connected between a pin 124 on the cap member "8, and a pin 121 on the head member 103, biases the slide bar 104 to the left, or away from the rods 592 and 593.

A roller 129, journaled by a pin 132 on the slide bar 104, constantly engages a vertically reciprocable cam bar 133 having, at its upper end, a cam head 134, and secured, at its lower end, by a clevis 131, and a pivot pin 138, to the upper end of a link 139. The bar 133 is journaled in a groove provided in a portion 135 of the bracket 101, and held in position by a plate 136'secured to the portion 135, as by screws 140. The link 139 is pivotally connected, at its lower end, (Fig.

22) by a pin 142, to a lever arm 143 that is pivotally mounted on a pin 144 which is journaled, at one end, in one of the center frames 20, and, at the other end, in a member 141 fixed to the upper end of an'upwardiy extending portion 148 of the bracket I82.

The lever arm 143 supports a pin 149 on which is rotatably supported a follower 152 for cooperation with a circular cam 153, and a contoured cam 154, on the cam shaft C. The follower is biased toward the cam by a spring 151 that is' however, that by substituting a lace bar, having a series of lace points, for the single point 446 or for the picot bar 448, and other changes effected. such as variation in the positions of the buttons on the pattern chains I01, I5I and 369, that other modified loop formations may be produced, such as non-run, run resist, and the like. The picot bar 448 makes a complete picot course in one operation, whereas, if it is desired to use a lace bar, in the place of the picot bar, as by removing certain of the points 441, such picot course may also be effected by an appropriate additional number of operations of the bar.

A so, both the picot points 441 and the lace points 446 may be thrown to the upper or inactive positions thereof at the same time, the lace points 446 being shown in lower active position, ready for operation at a certain position in the welt of a leg blank after plain knitting has been' done to such position. It should also be understood that either the lace points 446, or the picot points 441, may bein the lower or active position for operation, but not both.

With the points positioned as in Fig. 1, the cam shaft C being in its left hand position, the machine is adapted for plain knitting, in a usual and well known manner, in which position of the cam shaft, the follower 218, farthest to the left in the figure, is spaced to the right of its actuating cam 219 by a distance equal to twice the width of the cam, that the usual shagging of the cam shaft, without shifting the follower 218 toward the cam, will not place the follower on the cam, and consequently the narrowing head B will not be actuated. Also, at this time, the cam follower 2I0 (Fig.- 25), is not cooperating with the face cam 2| I, which is next to the right of the cam 219 and will not cooperate with it, merely by shogging of the cam shaft, since it is latched out of position for such cooperation by the latch shoulder 209 The cam 154, next to the right of the face cam 2| I does not, during plain knitting, cooperate with the follower 152 which is riding on the circular cam 153, but is ready for cooperation with the contoured cam 154 when the cam shaft C is shogged. Consequently, the cam head 134 is maintained in its position of Figs, 1 and 20. The cams next to the right of the cam 154 are, of course, the shogging cams I39 and I40 themselves. Next to the right of the shogging cam I40, the follower 332, during plain knitting, rides on its circular cam 333, ready for-cooperation with the contoured cam 334, upon shogging of the cam shaft C, to cause dipping movements of the front narrowing shaft 320. Next to the right of the dipping cam 334, the follower 422, for actuating the mechanism for advancing the chain 369 of the device L, is on its circular cam 421 during plain knitting, ready to begin advancing the chain 369, when the cam shaft C is shogged.

' Next to the right of the cam 421, is the follower 552, on its circular cam 588, and next the follower 553, not on any cam. These cams are connected to the face cam disk 493 of the attachment L, to determine the direction of shift of the lace points 446, or the picot points 441. As thus positioned, shogging of the cam shaftC is all that. is required to place the follower'552 on the cam 581 to cause a left shift of the lace points, through the linkage seen in Figs. 3 and 10. Note that, in this action, the follower 552 goes from the circular cam, equal to the high portion of the cam 581, to the latter, and then to the low portion of the cam 581. This causes counterclockwise motion of each of the levers 544, 534 and 5I1, causing the cam portion 494 of the disk 493 to move from the neutral button 503 to the short button 504, whereby the spring 599 shifts the slide bar 461 to the left, this action correlating the parts as controlled by the mechanism of Fig. 20, to cause the lace points to shift to the left. When a right shift is desired, the follower 553 is shifted by the fork 551 to the cam 589, and since the followers 552 and 553 are both on the. pin 554, and the cam 589 has a high point relative to the circular cam 588, the follower 522 will not be allowed to follow the cam 581. Consequently,

the levers 544, 534 and 5I1 will be moved clockwise and 334 similar to the cams 333 and 334 already mentioned and operating the same, and at the same time, it being usual in multi-section machines of this type, to provide a multiple of such mechanisms.

The lever I I9 for actuating the advancing pawl mechanism of the main pattern unit M, and the similar lever 2I4, for actuating the advancing pawl mechanism of the auxiliary pattern unit A, are actuated at each rotation of the cam shaft chain, by reason of the counter mechanism of Figs. 29-32, and the above-described idle backand-forth motion of the ratchet wheel 61, remains stationary for at least twenty courses of plain knitting such courses of equal number of loops,

and starts a new series of twenty, when, and as often, as desired.

To produce a lace course, without causing narrowing of the fabric, one of the buttons I48 on the chain I5I of the auxiliary pattern unit A engages the device I13 to move the crank I68 counterclockwise about the shaft I69, as viewed in Fig. 26, this action being connected through the link I62 to the lever arm I51, and through the latter, and the link I52, to the latch I44, to move the latter to release position. This action allows the stub shaft I31, under the action of the spring I43, to move the follower I38 to position between the cams I39 and I40 for shogging the cam shaft C to the right.-

Upon shogging of the cam shaft, the cam 424 engages the follower 422 to actuate the lever M4. the link 408, the lever 391, the lever arm 392, the

.lever 388, the horizontal pin 381, the vertical pin 384 and the pawl 319, to advance the ratchet wheel 358, and thepattern chain 369 of the lace stitch attachment L to position a button 439 opposite the follower 442. The cam 581 of the lace attachment control mechanism R engages the follower 552 to subsequently actuate the lever 544, the link 539, the lever 534, the link 532, the link, 524, the lever arm 5I1, the sleeve 453 and the face camdisk 493, to move the cam portion 494 from the neutral button 503 of the lace attach ment L to the short button 504, thus causing the left shift of the slide member 462 and the lace points 446, as above described.

At the same time, each cam 334, of the narrowing lift mechanism U, engages the corresponding follower 332, to actuate the lift lever 321 and to thereby cause dipping of the front narrowing shaft 320. With this action, of shifting the cam shaft and dipping the front narrowing shaft, the cam 154 of the lace point rod displacer device D, engages the follower 152, to actuate the lever 143 and the link 139, to lower the cam bar 133 whereby the cam head 134 allows the roller 129 and the slide bar 104 to be moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 20, by the spring 123. This action permits the slide member 462, and

the parts thereon, to move to the left, as viewed in Fig. 8, thereby permitting the follower 442 to engage one of the buttons 439 on the pattern chain 369 which may be the shortest 0r longest button 439, to determine the group of needles to be engaged by the lace points 446, or the loops to be transferred.

When the lace points 446, carrying yarn loops, have raised to transferring position by further rotation of the dipping cam 334, the lace attachment control mechanism R is actuated, as above set forth, to transfer the loops. As the front narrowing shaft is moved to its upper position, the displacer mechanism D raises its cam head 134 against the roller 129 to move the face plate 102, and the lace bar 593 to the right. This action allows the spring 599 to move the slide member 462 to move'the plunger 442 to the right, or beyond the longest of the buttons 439 on the chain 369, and the chain is given another pawling' auxiliary pattern chainaction (Fig. 4) actuating the levers,5 61 and 559 to engage the follower 553 to the cam 589, as. above set forth, whereby the lever 544 is moved counterclockwise, to actuate the link 539, the

lever 534, the link 532',

5". Thisaction, as before stated, moves the neutral needle so far as direction of shift is conthe link 524 and the lever cam portion 494 of the disk 493 into engagement with the long button 502, and moves the slide member 461 and the lace points 446, through the intermediary of the member 591 and the element 60!, to*the right. 1

To produce narrowing of the-fabric, coincident with lace producing movement, or independently of this movement, as when the lace points are raised to inactive position, a button on the chain I01 of the main pattern unit M engages the follower portion I92 (Fig. 27) to move the lever I91 clockwise about the stationary shaft 51,,against the action of the spring I88, which action engages the dog I94to the lug I91 to turn the lever I98 counterclockwise about theshaft I58, against the action of the spring 20I, to release the bifurcated end 228 of the lever 221 from the latch shoulder 209,'ther.eby allowing the spring 248 (Fig. to lower the follower 2! into active relation to the face cam 2I I. Actuation of the follower 2 III by the face, cam moves the link 231, and the lever243, counterclockwise about the pm 244, as viewed in Fig. 24, thereby moving the top of the lever 254 to the left, as viewed in this figure, about the pin 251 at the rear of the machine. This movement shifts the rod 259 to the right, against the action of the spring 263, to turn the lever 212 clockwise about the pin 213, and to move the follower218 to the left a distance oi? ,once its width toward the cam 219. With the left of this needle will used to position the lace points 'tremities in'the operative range of they pattern sirable magnitude;

- appearing throughout this description and claims,

all the elements associated therewith, includin the lace point 446 would move to the left, to the position of Fig. 34, in which the plunger 442 engases the selected button 439, and the lace point 446 is opposite a certain needle 2|. Note also, in this position, Fig. 34, that thescrew 699 clears the face plate 102, so that the needle selection is effected entirely by the deviceL; the device D being merely to displace the entire assembly on the slide member 461, so that the plunger 442 will clear the longest buttons 439, as before stated. In the position of Fig. 34 then, with the cam portion 494 on the neutral button 503, the needle opposite the points 446 may be considered the cemed; that is,-the selection of a needle to the be effected by engagement 494 with the short button 504, as indicated in Fig. 35, and the selection of a needle to the right of the needle opposite the points 446 in Fig. 34, will be effected by engagement of the cam portion 494 with the long button 502, as indicated inFig..36.

From the foregoing it wilt-be seen that the, button follower 442 is displaced beyond the longestbutton 439 ,during each advancement of the pattern chain 369. Thus by meanspf this arrangem'ent adjacent pattern buttons 439 may be 446 at opposite exof the cam portion means,,which range'niay in turn be of any de whereas in prior art pattern devices such, for instance "as cam disks, cam link chains, and the like, where the followers arein' constant engagement therewith throughout the entire operative cycle, the range over which the loop manipulating implements can' operate is definitely limited by the size of the follower member and alsoby the greatest degree of rise between adjacent operative positions of the pattern .means which will transmit an operative movement to the follower. a

It is to. be understood that the expressions modified loops and "modified loop formations,

are to be considered in a generic sense covering latter normally a two cam width distance'from the follower 218, when the cam shaft C is shogged to the right, the follower 218 will become aligned with the cam 219 for actuation thereby, to effect the usual narrowing action of the narrowing head -B. i

As indicated in Fig. 26, either the button I41 on the chain I01, or the button I 48 on the chain I5I, may release the latch I44, independently of the other, if they do not come up at the same time, or the button I41 may actuate the latch I44, in-' dependently of the button I48, to cause shogging of the cam shaft C for narrowing in plain fabric f longest button 439 on the chain 369. At the same time, with the cam portion 494 enga ing the button 503 of intermediate length, upon the de-,

. 75 scent of the cam head'134, the plunger 442, and

disclosed and hereinafter claimed,

any special loop or stitch formations which are effected by spreading, transferring, or otherwise reshaping the customary plain knit loops or chain stitches. e Of course, the improvements specifically shown and'described by which-I obtain the above. re-. sults, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein I;claim as my invention:

jl; In a flat knitting machine, mechanism comprising point means for eifecting modified loop" formations, means for supporting said point" means and imparting dipping movements thereto,

mechanism forjactuating said supporting means this position, the plunger 442 will clear they formations,

to effect said dipping movements, a device mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith and for controlling the positioning ofthe point means, and additionalmeansarranged to dipjwith said device for effecting loop shifting movement of said point means.

2. In a flat knitting machine, mechansm comprising point means for" effecting modified loop means fora. supporting said point means and imparting dipping movements thereto, mechanism for actuating said, supporting means to eflect said dipping movements, a device mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith fo'r controlling, the

positioning of the point means and additional means arranged to cooperate with said control means and to dip therewith for effecting loop shifting movement of said point means.

3. In a flat knitting machine, mechanism comprising point means for effecting modified loop formations, means for supporting said point means and imparting dipping movements thereto, mechanism for actuating said supporting means to effect said dipping movements, pattern means mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith and for controlling the positioning of said point means, and means other than said pattern means arranged for dipping movement with said pattern means for effecting shifting movement of said point means.

4. In a fiat knitting machine, mechanism comprising point means for effecting modified loop formations, means for supporting said point means and imparting dipping movements thereto, mechanism for actuating said supporting means to effect said dipping movements, pattern means mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith, means also mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith and cooperating with said pattern means for -controlling the position of said point formations, means for supporting said point means and imparting dipping movements thereto, mechanism for' actuating said supporting means to effect said dipping movements, and pattern means mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith including, and providing for variation in the number and pattern controlling effect of, a plurality of separate elements in selected positions each for movement relative to said supporting means along the same path as the others for controlling the position of said point means, and means also mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith, cooperating with any of said separate elements selected, and controlling the direction of shift of said point means.

6. In a fiat knitting machine, mechanism comprising point means for effecting modified loop formations, means for supporting said point means and imparting dipping movements thereto, mechanism for actuating said supporting means to effect said dipping movements, and pattern'means mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith including, and

' providing for variation in number of a plurality of flexibly connected portions movable relative to said supporting means along a given path and adapted for the readily removable reception and variation in number of a plurality of separate elements in selected positions along said path for controlling the position of said point means, and means also mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith, cooperating with any of said elements selected, and controlling the direction of shift of said point means.

'7. In a flat knitting machine, mechanism comprising point means for effecting modified loop formations, means for supporting said point means and imparting dipping movements thereto,

mechanism for actuating said supporting means to effect said dipping movements,- pattern means mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith and for controlling the position of said point means, and actuating means other than said pattern means mounted on said supporting means for effecting shifting movement of said point means.

8. In a fiat knitting machine, mechanism com- 5 ments in selected positions each for movement 15 relative to said supporting means along the same path as the others, mmns also mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith and cooperating with any of said separate elements selected for controlling the position of 20 said point means, and means associated with said cooperating means to control the direction of shift of said point means.

9. In a flat knitting machine, mechanism comprising point means for effecting modified loop 25 formations, means for supporting said point means and imparting dipping movements thereto, mechanism for actuating said supporting means to effect said dipping movements, and pattern means mounted on said supporting means for 30 dipping movement therewith including, and providing for variation in number of a plurality of flexibly connected portions movable relative to said supporting means along a given path and adapted for the readily removable reception and 35 variation in number of a plurality of separate elements in selected positions along said path, means also mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith and cooperating with any of said elements selected for controlling the position of said point means, and means associated with said cooperating means to control the direction of shift of said point means.

7 10. In a fiat knitting machine, mechanism comprising point means for effecting modified loop formations, means for supporting said point means and imparting dipping movements thereto, mechanism for actuating said supporting means to eifect said dipping movements, pattern means including an element-receiving base mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith, elements readily detachably secured to said base, means mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith and cooperation with said detachable elements to control positioningof said point means, and actuating' means other than saidpattern means mounted on said supporting means for effecting shifting movement of said point means.

11. In a fiat knitting machine, mechanism comprising point means for effecting modified loop formations, means for supporting said point means and imparting dipping movements thereto, mechanism for actuating said supporting means to effect said dipping movements, a device mounted on said supporting means for dipping movement therewith and comprising a plurality of means for controlling a plurality of operations affecting said point means, means for actuating said plurality of control means, and a number of linkage means corresponding to said plurality of control means including a linkage between each of said control means and said actuating means.

12.. In a flat knitting machine, mechanism comprising point means for eifecting modified loop 75 I 

